Suspect in South Bay Church Arson Fires Pleads Not Guilty

A 63-year-old woman who allegedly set seven fires in El Segundo, including two at churches, pleaded not guilty today.

Barbara Nania of El Segundo is charged with seven felony counts of arson and one felony count of terrorism, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. She is due back in court on Oct. 1.

The series of fires started Aug. 17 with a blaze at a yarn store, with subsequent fires being set on Aug. 18, Aug. 20, Aug. 23 and Aug. 24.

Nania is accused of burning some robes at a Catholic church in the Aug. 20 fire and starting three fires Aug. 24, including a blaze that was set in the lobby of an Episcopal church while a service was ongoing, according to Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney. Parishioners were able to put out that fire.

No one was injured in any of the blazes.

Nania was arrested Aug. 26 after being spotted by a patrol officer who thought she resembled the suspect seen in surveillance video, police said.

She is being held on $775,000 bail.

If convicted as charged, she faces up to 13 years and four months in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.